THE STORY SO FAR: It’s 1910, and Effie is a housemaid in a grand Scottish country house. Miss Constance, the laird’s daughter, arrives home from her travels with plans to create a Japanese garden. Miss Constance has invited two Japanese horticulturalists – Misuki and her mother, Akari – to work on the project. Effie, who loves gardening, also helps, and she and Misuki become friends. So Effie is dismayed when she learns that Misuki will soon return to Japan to be married. Misuki is opposed to the match, which was arranged by her late father. She is also romantically involved with Effie’s brother, Hamish. Just before the garden’s grand opening, Misuki and Hamish disappear. Miss Constance and Effie eventually find them at a nearby railway station, where a weeping Misuki is refusing to board the train. Miss Constance concludes that the girl has been lured away by Hamish against her will.
Miss Constance was having a struggle to keep Misuki moving towards the car. As she wriggled and strained to get out of the mistress’ grip, Misuki never once dropped her gaze from Hamish, who stood, ashen-faced, at the other end of the platform.
Effie stood between them, wringing her hands. ‘M’lady, please!’ she cried. ‘It’s not what you think! Hamish
